Spanish Friars in Colonial Philippines

The Spanish Friars were the crucial elements in the Westernizing the Philippine Archipelago, and in spreading the Christian faith in this part of the world. Journeying with the first European explorers in these islands in the Far East, they came with the intention of establishing the Catholic Religion under the Patronato real of the Kings of Spain.

After the conquistadores won the natives to allegiance to the Spanish crown, by peaceful means of treaties and pacts or by means of war, Spain did not send large standing armies to maintain its empire in the East. The apostolic zeal of the missionaries followed up the efforts of men like Miguel López de Legazpi, and aided to consolidate the enterprise of hispanizing the Philippines. The Spanish missionaries were the real conquerors; they who without any other arms than their virtues, gained over the good will of the islanders, caused the Spanish name to be beloved, and gave the king, as it were by a miracle, two millions more of submissive and Christian subjects.^[1] Contemporary Europeans would say that "In each friar in the Philippines the King had a captain general and a whole army." ^[2] The French historian Par J. Mallat also made a similar observation. He said:"It is only by the influence of religion that Philippines was conquered. Only this influence could keep these (islands)."^[3]

Role of the Friars in Hispanized Parts of the Philippines

Because of the scarcity of Spanish officials in the Philippines, most often the friar was the only Spaniard in the town. Aside from his religious activities, the friar also had authority in administration of the colony. He supervised the election of the gobernadorcillo and cabeza. He was the keeper of the list of residents of the town. His signature must be seen in all the financial papers of the town. The friars also served as mediator who pacified the rebellions. It was because of his spiritual function that people believed and feared him. He was also influential because of his knowledge of the native language and his long stay in the town.^[4]

References

1. "Of little avail would have been the valor and constancy with which Legaspi and his worthy companions overcame the natives of the islands, if the apostolic zeal of the missionaries had not seconded their exertions, and aided to consolidate the enterprise. The latter were the real conquerors; they who without any other arms than their virtues, gained over the good will of the islanders, caused the Spanish name to be beloved, and gave the king, as it were by a miracle, two millions more of submissive and Christian subjects." Tomas de Comyn, State of the Philippine Islands in 1820, William Walton, trans., London: 1821, p. 209.
2. Commenting on the very small standing army that protected the Spanish government in the Philippines, an Old Viceroy of New Spain was quoted saying: "En cada fraile tenía el Rey en Filipinas un capitan general y un ejercito entero." Par J. Mallat, Les Philippines, histoire, geographie, moeurs, agriculture, industrie et commerce des Colonies espagnoles dans l'oceanie, Paris: 1846, p. 389.
3. "C'est par la seule influence de la religion que l'on a conquis les Philippines, et cette influence pourra seule les conserver." Par J. Mallat, Les Philippines, histoire, geographie, moeurs, agriculture, industrie et commerce des Colonies espagnoles dans l'oceanie, Paris: 1846, p. 40.
4. Philippine Civilization History and Government by Celestina Boncan et.al published by Vibal Publishing House p.114